10/5/2025 - "We Love Because He First Loved Us” (I John 4:15-21) by Elder Owen Simiele at New Woodstock Community Church.
Sermon Outline:
“We Love Because He First Loved Us” (I John 4:15-21)
A) Love: A Work of Faith
B) Love: Casting Out Fear
C) Love: Because It’s Commanded
Owen's previous sermon on 1 John 4:7-14 was given off location and wasn't recorded. For your reference we've included his written sermon in this episode's description.
Sermon Outline: “A Love Like No Other” (1 John 4:7-14)
A) Love is from God - vv. 7-8
B) Love That Takes the Initiative - vv. 9-11
C) Love’s Assurance - vv. 12-13
D) Love’s Exhortation - vv. 14
A) Love is from God - vv. 7-8
L - Sabrina and I were married about two years, I had become saved, and as I started being in the Bible more, I came upon the verses concerning a woman honoring her husband. I never took into account the verses that told me to love my wife as Christ loved the church - which means total sacrifice. I never saw Peters writing that I should live with my wife in an understanding way - as the weaker vessel - so that my prayers would not be hindered. Instead - I saw my wife as the one who should honor me first - as I was the head, the…..boss. The bitterness turned anger, into arguments, into yelling. It reached it’s crescendo when I left work one day, not sure if I would return home again.
I ended up finding myself at Barney’s house. I explained in depth Sabrina’s lack of respect, Sabrina’s failings as a wife, how I had been praying for her to be a better wife….and how I could not put up with it anymore. After listening patiently, Barney gave me his counsel. He said to me, “I want you to stop praying for your wife. I want you pray that the Lord would give you His love for your wife."
I was dumbfounded, because that's why I married her right? Because I loved her, wasn't it?? So I prayed. I didn't add prerequisites that she would act better, or be more honoring - I only prayed that God would give me his love for her. In doing so, I realized, I didn't love her sacrificially. I loved her with a love that had expectations as to who she would be, and what she would do as my wife. It wasn't a love from God - It was a selfish love that came with expectations - mine.
S - John is reminding his readers of their love for one another - but it is a love from God - not from themselves.
P - 1 John 4:7-8 - 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
D - We left off last week with John directing his readers to test the spirits
- In doing so, John reminded them of that which he spoke about back in chapter 2 - the anti-christs that are in the world. In ending his thoughts concerning this issue of false teachers, John ends with this statement: 1 John 4:6 - 6 We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
A powerful statement, full of apostolic authority aimed to remind his readers that right doctrine comes from the apostles Christ has ordained to teach the churches. But in light of such a direct statement - there very well may be a surge in the desire to get things right - and to be overly harsh in their examination of others.
- This could include arguments over secondary issues - and as fellow humans we can almost hear them say:
- “Does this person, or that person, truly know God?”
So John reminds them in verse 7 - Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
So for those who seek false spirits under every rock and behind every tree, this would be a reminder of who they are to be in Christ.
- Because we can, at times, in our desire to get it right - or our desire for others to get it right - we forget that we are to love one another
- and not just in the testing of the spirits, but at all times
But whose love is John speaking about? Turn with me to Romans 5.
- Romans 5:1-5 - 1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
So the love that his readers are to have toward one another is not something they can produce or manufacture on our own.
- It is a love - the very love of God - that is poured into them - by someone specific.
- The Holy Spirit - a person - sent by God - pours God’s love into, or within, them.
Hence why verse 7, John writes, “for love is from God”!
- He is correct, indeed it is!
The love of feelings, or affirmations of others in sin, is a human love.
So what does the love of God look like? We are going to look at several verses, so bear with me. Turn with me to Hebrews 6 -
I will not go into the full context of this verse, as it can stand on its own:
- 10 For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.
Notice how the writer of Hebrews encourages his readers, that God does see the work and love that they have shown toward His name…..How is that defined? - in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.
His readers are loving other saints - and it is work and it is in love.
- Turn with me to 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 - 2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention [of you] in our prayers; 3 constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father,
What do we think this means? Work of faith, labor of love, steadfastness of hope?
- Work (remember Hebrews 6:10) - toil (as an effort or occupation); or an act:
- We are to live and move by faith - trusting our Father in heaven.
- Labor - intense labour united with trouble and toil - (BLB)
- The love of God that is poured into you is not an easy love.
- It is a hard love, that needs to strive when things are difficult.
- Steadfastness - “the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings”"G5281 - hypomonē - Strong's Greek Lexicon (nasb95)." Blue Letter Bible. Web. 6 Sep, 2025. <
